by Cassie Kristof

Created on: January 07, 2008

"When I was young all we had to play with was a mop, a cardboard box and some newspaper." The old familiar story always began the same way every time I would complain of boredom as a child. The response from me was always a roll of the eyes and a big sigh. The funny thing is, when my own children pout and complain of boredom I am sure they think the Barbie Doll, pet guinea pig and Cabbage Patch Kid that were my much loved toys are positively prehistoric!

Computer games were a luxury you may have been able to play with once a week at school when I was a child. You definitely were nobody if you didn't have a Cabbage Patch kid. Mine came camping, to the beach, to school and had a myriad of accessories.

I remember the Christmas when I first became an adoptive mother to my 'Kid. Actually I cried because Santa had brought me one with red hair when I had specifically asked for a blond one. Pretty soon though, we were inseparable. I even sent away the change of name form because I really didn't think 'Loveday Janet' was a very nice name for a toy or a child and thereafter she was named 'Melissa Jayne'.

My brothers, knowing that Melissa was my most special toy found it very amusing to hide her in very strange places, such as the hen-house. We went ten-pin bowling one afternoon and Melissa did an impression of a bowling ball thanks to my youngest brother. My middle brother thought she would make great fodder for the dog next door (she survived with minor injuries - I was emotionally scarred for life!)

Today, Melissa Jayne is still very much a part of the family. She is now twenty-something (a lady doesn't reveal her age!) and will be passed on to my daughter when she is old enough to roll her eyes at me and give me a great big sigh!

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